47th Trofeo Alfredo Binda, WWT, March 19th, 2023

[Samu Cuenca]

Last year's edition had the first all-Italian podium since 1995


It's time for the longest running race on the women's World Tour. First won by Giuseppina Micheloni, a former ice skater, the race was mostly an Italian affair between 1974 and 1996, but since its return from a short hiatus in 1999, it has been contested by some of the biggest names from the past 25 years. People like Maria Cannins, Fabiana Luerini, Oenone Wood, Nicole Brändli, Nicole Cooke, Emma Pooley, Emma Johansson, Marianne Vos, Lizzie Deignan, Kasia Niewiadoma, Elisa Longo Borghini and most recently Elisa Balsamo have all won it, while Anna van der Breggen and Annemiek van Vleuten have finished no better than third on the finish line in Cittiglio.

Taking place in the area between Lago Varese and Lago Maggiore, the 139 km race offers a lumpy route that usually ends in a sprint in a small group, but can also be won solo, if someone has the strength too pull it off. The full start list is sadly not known at this point, but I'm not sure we're going to see any of Lotte Kopecky, Demi Vollering, Annemiek van Vleuten, Elisa Longo Borghini, Liane Lippert, Marta Cavalli, Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig take part, but time will tell.

Start list: https://firstcycling.com/race.php?r=9046&y=2023&k=start

Spoiler: Course Info

 

[Samu Cuenca]

And if you're wondering why there's now two threads for the 47th edition, it's just because a certain someone couldn't count correctly a year ago

 

[RedheadDane]

And if you're wondering why there's now two threads for the 47th edition, it's just because a certain someone couldn't count correctly a year ago

This bloody forum and its links to similar threads!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

At least we now know that Wiebes is riding the race. She is a fomer winner of the junior race, but has never ridden the elite version before. With the way she's been climbing this year, she can definitely win, unless a strong group gets away and is able to work together.

 

[yaco]

Surely you ride hard to keep Wiebes away from the finish - I doubt SD Worx has the team to control this race, however they have riders who climb well and can get in a break.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I hadn't expected today's birthday girl Marta Cavalli to be back racing already, and I wasn't sure about Vos either, but it's great to see them both on the start list.

But Faulkner has not started today, so that will hurt my CQ team.

Cat Ferguson, who finished 6th in the junior race at the CX WC, won the Piccolo Trofeo Binda ahead of Julie Bego, who was one of the better first-year juniors last year. Ferguson might not be as talented as Zoe Bäckstedt, but she seems quite promising.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Mixed feelings on this one, as the increased professionalism in the péloton has also made this more likely to be a sprint as these obstacles are no longer as selective as they used to be and this reflects in the lack of people like van Vleuten, Longo Borghini, Uttrup Ludwig, Vollering and co on the startlist. Maybe need to get Rifugio Sette Termini or Passo San Michele into the first part of the race to try to burn a few more of them off in future.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Mixed feelings on this one, as the increased professionalism in the péloton has also made this more likely to be a sprint as these obstacles are no longer as selective as they used to be and this reflects in the lack of people like van Vleuten, Longo Borghini, Uttrup Ludwig, Vollering and co on the startlist. Maybe need to get Rifugio Sette Termini or Passo San Michele into the first part of the race to try to burn a few more of them off in future.

It's definitely not a great look for Binda that a lot of riders have stayed away. It could possibly benefit the race if RCS brings back an Milano-Sanremo like race, so there would be a reason for them to be in Italy for longer, but it could of course also just mean that they've only be riding the MSR race, which would be huge shame for the Binda organisers.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The first real break had Shackley, Realini, Cadzow and Rooijakkers in it, but not all teams were a fan of that, and perhaps they weren't able to work well together either.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

We have live pictures!

53 km left, and a group of 8 riders has a gap, but FDJ are upping the pace in the peloton.

The gap was closed, but many riders were dropped from the peloton.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

A strong group with Kasia, Shirin, Marianne, Misha, Alena, Esmée and Elise had a gap, but is now brought back again.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Eleonora Ciabocco has been joined by Karlijn Swinkels and they have 25 seconds with 40 km to go. FDJ are once again leading the peloton.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Adgeest has been send up the road to give the rest of the FDJ team a breather, and the chase has broken down behind.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The break is losing time now, even though it looks like the peloton is slowing down.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Trek has hit the front with Realini doing the work.

 

[Lequack]

No Elisa to beat Gaia Realini to the line like in UAE.

 

[Lequack]

Just a random shot of Pogacar watching the race.

 

[Lequack]

Can Shirin make it to the finish?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Impressive attack from the sand queen, as the peloton is split in half.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Classic attack from Brown, but she didn't look great on the climbs earlier, and now she's caught again.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Kasia and García are putting the riders into the red zone, and Wiebes is dropped.

 

[Sciatic]

Stupid moto

 

[Lequack]

Stupid police braking Shirin.

 

[BR2]

Motos.

 

[Sciatic]

Chasing group antics